Middle Mission Creek and White Road Bridge Designs

The Middle Mission Creek and White Road Bridge Designs project completed two designs for steelhead habitat barrier removal. Both sites are located in the Lapwai Creek Watershed which is a priority watershed for restoration implementation in the Lower Clearwater Steelhead population, Clearwater River MPG, Snake River Steelhead DPS and has been identified as such in the NMFS 2017 ESA steelhead recovery plan. When implemented, the two projects will restore habitat access to 17.5 miles of stream.

Site one is located on Mission Creek, a tributary to Lapwai Creek. The existing crossing, an instream rocked stream crossing, requires continual maintenance by the landowner, which causes channel disturbance impacting channel stability, and creates a seasonal passage barrier. The project, when implemented, will restore spawning habitat and remove a seasonal barrier blocking approximately 13 miles of stream in the summer low flow months. Work completed at this site includes channel survey, topographic survey, sediment analysis, hydrology analysis and design for a bridge. Additional work included a biological assessment, Clean Water Act section 404 permit, Idaho Department of Water Resources Stream Alteration Permit and Nez Perce County Floodplain permit. This project has proceeded to implementation phase (PCSRF project 013 19 CW).

Site two is located on Tom Beall Creek, a tributary to Lapwai Creek and is the first passage barrier on this tributary. It is a juvenile and adult barrier for steelhead. This bridge design is the last of four to be completed, that when constructed will make 4.5 miles of stream accessible to fish. Work completed at this site includes channel survey, topographic survey, and bridge design. Additional work included a biological assessment, Clean Water Act section 404 permit, Idaho Department of Water Resources Stream Alteration Permit, and cultural resource assessment for compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act section 104. This project has proceeded to implementation phase (PCSRF project 012 19 CW).

This project received four no-cost time extensions due to landowner changes and additional time needed for engineering.

A short video of coho spawning below the White Road Culvert barrier is available on Youtube at https://youtu.be/1zIit7avZYY

Lapwai Creek is a priority watershed for restoration implementation in the Lower Mainstem Clearwater River steelhead population, Clearwater River MPG, Snake River steelhead DPS and has been identified as such in the NMFS 2016 proposed recovery plan. The engineered designs developed by this project will be used to implement priority actions identified in the proposed recovery plan to address limiting factors.